A Story About a Blonde Gal Angel Who Excessively Praises My Cooking. After Asking Me to Teach Her How to Cook, Feelings of Mutual Love Began to Grow - Chapter 18-19

Chapter 18: Insensitivity

I’ve gotten used to high school life, and it’s been almost a month.

The Golden Week is starting this weekend.

I’m looking forward to the break.

“Chicken is cheap today.”

“Oh, Motobu-san, hello!”

“Hi.”

Because I shop at the supermarket almost every day, I’ve started getting greetings from the butchers and others.

The older ladies find it charming that a high school boy is shopping like a househusband.

Even though I’m a background character, I’m not an awkward or reclusive one. I respond when greeted and nod if our eyes meet.

“Hey, it’s Motobu.”

“Oh, Miaki-san. Hello.”

Since Miaki-san also started working a month ago, she’s become quite adept at her tasks.

She looks a bit scary but seems to be popular with the older men because of her sisterly vibe.

“Are you not with Amatsuka-chan today?”

“Well, Amatsuka-san must have her own plans. We’re just cooking partners.”

Miaki-san continues to arrange the products while chatting.

Personally, I find it a bit awkward to have acquaintances at my regular store, but this supermarket is cheap and close.

I want to avoid being disliked for treating them poorly, as it would affect my daily life.

Maintaining peace in my living area is always a mental effort for a full-time househusband.

Even I sometimes have to join neighborhood conversations. Life is tough.

“By the way, aren’t you really dating her?”

Miaki-san stopped arranging products and stared at me intensely.

Is she glaring at me, big sis? Scary.

Well, she’s probably just skeptical.

“I’m not dating Amatsuka-san. We’re just cooking together.”

“But you’re both visiting each other’s homes?”

I remember Amatsuka-san mentioned that she showed the dishes she made to her friends. I wonder if she mentioned me…

That would be problematic.

I’d rather quietly live in the corner of the classroom.

“Besides, someone like me, who’s so low-key, couldn’t possibly be dating Amatsuka-san. It wouldn’t match.”

“…Hmm, I see.”

She seemed to have an ambiguous attitude.

I understand what she’s implying.

People might see Amatsuka-san and me as just friendly and feel uneasy.

You get crushed if you don’t understand your position.

In the student world, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.

Moreover, Amatsuka-san would have no reason to have feelings for me.

I’m a regular person.

I’m not insensitive.

Even when watching dramas or movies, I get frustrated when characters don’t notice things, and I’m sensitive to others’ ill will or hostility.

That’s why I wanted to stay quiet, but I ended up having to teach Amatsuka-san how to cook.

However, I have no complaints about teaching her.

The issue is everything else.

“If something comes up, I’ll at least listen to you.”

“…Thank you.”

I’m not sure what to make of it, but Miaki-san is a good person after all.

Although I don’t know her contact information, I don’t think I’ll need to consult her.

I think it’s just a polite remark, so I shouldn’t worry too much.

Afterward, I paid and left the supermarket.

As I reconsidered my meal plans, I felt an odd sense of being watched.

I’ve been feeling this sense of discomfort recently.

It’s been suddenly recent.

“…What’s going on? …”

I started recording on my phone and put it back in my back pocket.

I made sure the lens faced up and walked normally.

The footage was shaky, but I was able to record behind me without any manipulation.

This was a reverse voyeurism method taught by Naoto-san.

But why am I doing this…

I headed home without really understanding what was going on.

—

Chapter 19: Peace

“…It’s really not recording.”

On my way back from the supermarket where I talked to Miaki-san, I noticed a suspicious shadow.

The blurry video didn’t capture the shadow.

I’ve never had any supernatural experiences, and whether there are ghosts or not doesn’t affect the Motobu family’s finances.

If it brought poverty or misfortune, it would be a different story, but living people are scarier than imaginary ghosts or supernatural beings.

…I have a headache. Memories I’d rather not recall…

“Hmm? A call?”

I picked up my phone, thinking it might be Chika or Manoka-san, but it was Amatsuka-san.

I answered the call to see what was up.

“Hello.”

“Hey, Motobu-kun, are you free right now?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“Motobu-kun, let’s go to the social gathering.”

“Well, I have plans…”

“Chika-chan said you didn’t have any plans, and when I checked, you’re not even in the class LINE group!!”

So Chika was the one behind this…

What a traitor.

Next time, I’ll eat some delicious mint chocolate ice cream next to her while she’s studying late at night and do a perfect food review…

“Well, I wasn’t invited to the class LINE group.”

“Then I’ll invite you.”

“No, I’ll pass.”

“Why not?”

“If I join the class LINE group now, people will just think, ‘Who’s Motobu Ken?’ and I won’t be able to go to school the next day.”

I’ve lived my life keeping a low profile to avoid being targeted. I don’t want to throw myself into such a lively space.

If you’re going to do that, Amatsuka-san will have to take responsibility and look after me until the end.

“If you invite me, I won’t teach you how to cook anymore. You’ll have to learn on your own.”

My priorities are home and studies.

Cooking with Amatsuka-san is enjoyable, but my life won’t be disrupted if I stop doing it.

In fact, it would be a problem if my school life were disrupted.

I want to avoid trouble to advance to a national university.

People like me, who have no voice, are easily crushed.

“…You don’t have to say it like that… Is it really that bad?”

“It is.”

“That was an immediate answer!”

“I’d rather live quietly.”

“…I see.”

“I’m sorry. Enjoy the gathering. No one will be troubled by my absence, and no one will miss me.”

“…I would enjoy it more if you were there, Motobu-kun…”

“I’m glad you feel that way, but I probably wouldn’t enjoy it.”

Amatsuka-san is kind and enjoyable to talk to.

It’s never boring to be with her.

But she’s someone else. Not a friend.

Amatsuka-san is the center of the class.

So, this person won’t be next to me.

The center of the class wouldn’t be next to a background character.

“I don’t find being alone painful. However, I don’t want to be recognized as the only one alone in such settings.”

Amatsuka-san might not understand what I’m saying.

I don’t want her to understand.

I don’t want to end up in the same situation as before or for it to happen again.

“I’m sorry for being so selfish.”

“It’s not your fault, Amatsuka-san. It’s my fault for not being able to enjoy myself like everyone else. It’s my fault for not fitting in with the group.”

I like seeing others having fun.

I like seeing people smile with the food I made.

But I’m not part of that scene.

I’m not needed.

It’s enough just to watch from outside that circle.

If I can’t do that, it’s better not to be there.

“Motobu-kun, it’s not your fault. It’s because I was being selfish…”

“Anyway, please enjoy yourselves.”

After saying that, I ended the call.